Director, Public Affairs

Description

The Director, Public Affairs plays a key role in promoting NAA as the preeminent resource and leading voice for the rental housing industry. The position is responsible for developing and implementing the NAA Public Affairs strategy and oversees execution of all team initiatives, including advocacy communications (traditional and digital), media relations and similar activities. A substantial focus for the director is creating NAA’s public messaging and ensuring the association reaches the appropriate audiences in an impactful way. The role also serves as NAA’s primary media contact and will build relationships with prominent members of the national press. The director briefs leadership on the media landscape and NAA positions, and writes speeches and talking points for executives and volunteer leaders. The role must remain knowledgeable of and adopt evolving best practices and pursue strategies that grow NAA’s reputation amongst policy makers, association members and the public, including the press. The position is also responsible for streamlining collaboration between the government affairs, communications, legal, executive and public affairs functions and ensuring all advocacy programming maintains an audience-first approach. With two direct reports, the director manages the day-to-day activities of the division and delegates responsibilities to relevant team members.

Principal Accountabilities

• Develop overarching strategy to position NAA as the leading voice of the rental housing industry.
• Oversee all activities of the Public Affairs department, delegate assignments and responsibilities as appropriate.
• Manage day-to-day activities of the public affairs manager and digital manager, oversee staff assignments and help foster career growth.
• Create and execute NAA Public Relations and Public Affairs plans, to include research rollouts, federal advocacy campaigns, rapid response, crisis response, digital advertising campaigns, etc.
• Serve as primary NAA media contact, build and maintain relationships with tier one, beltway and industry reporters and producers.
• Pitch media stories to further enhance NAA’s public image and role as the voice of the rental housing industry.
• Review and edit NAA communications and other materials to ensure all align with the values and policy positions of NAA, adhere to audience-first principles and prevent harm to the NAA brand, our members and the rental housing industry.
• Provide external communications counsel and analysis to NAA leadership, including the executive office and volunteer officers.
• Compose speeches for NAA leadership, including the President and CEO and the Chairman of the Board.
• Audit and adjust robust digital strategy for NAA advocacy program.
• Craft NAA media talking points and messaging on priority and/or crisis issues, oversee creation of and review all other talking points and materials.
• Execute rapid response to emerging issues (ex: State of the Union, passage of legislation, Congressional hearings, etc) to include:
• Live tweeting, when applicable
• Proactive press outreach, when applicable
• Creation/distribution of NAA statement or press release
• Press follow-up
• Develop and manage budget for Public Affairs division, negotiate and review contracts with external vendors.
• Manage external Public Affairs vendors, including day-to-day activities and deliverables; facilitate feedback and ensure contract scopes are met to the association’s satisfaction.
• Provide counsel and assistance to affiliated associations on media, communications and speech needs to ensure cohesive industry voice.
• Collaborate with Government Affairs and Legal team leads to ensure messaging for advocacy materials and campaigns aligns with NAA voice and brand.
  
  

Competencies

• Public Relations and communications expertise
• Critical evaluation and analytical mindset
• Proactive outlook
• Relationship management
• Adaptability
• Knowledge of legislative process/political landscape
• Planning and prioritization
• Collaboration
• Technical Capacity
• Ethical practice
• Cultural/external awareness
• Organizational awareness
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position oversees the Public Affairs department, comprised of the Public Affairs Manager and Digital Manager, Public Affairs.

This position is hybrid-remote, with at least two days required per week in our Arlington, VA office - candidates must be located within a 50-mile radius of Arlington, VA or be willing to relocate.

The salary range for the position is $115,000 to $130,000.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or a similar field
• 7+ years previous experience in a communications, public relations or public affairs setting or equivalent experience
• 2+ years in a management role; strong leadership, supervisory, organizational and project management skills
• Rental housing or adjacent industry experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated understanding of PR and media relations best practices
• A proven track record of PR and communications campaign creation and execution, including pitching to Tier 1 national media
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work with all levels of organization staff, including senior leadership and executives
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills
• Works well under tight deadlines with ability to manage and prioritize competing projects
• Strong understanding of AP style and rules of grammar and punctuation
• Proficient with Microsoft Office 365
• Basic photography and videography skills
• Campaign, legislative or government affairs experience a plus
  
  

Travel

Travel for 2-3 conferences annually is required for this position.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms. The employee may occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

Work is regularly performed in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment.

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.